An important message for colored-belts.

[HanshiClayton]

If you are studying for your shodan (first black belt) you may find the material on this site somewhat troubling. Ninety-nine out of a hundred Shotokan sensei are amazingly ignorant of kata applications, and they think that is proper and normal. You may find that your teacher is one of these. Probably so, in fact.

Do not let this bother you. As a colored-belt student, your job is to strengthen and stretch your body, and to develop powerful punches, blocks and strikes. You should also be learning how to move confidently and very rapidly to locations where your opponent loses his "lock" on you. This is the business of beginners.

Once you have your shodan, you can relax for a bit and get some perspective. Go to your teacher's seminars, but go to other seminars also. Learn about other arts. Visit other classes. Climb out of the box and look around.

But for now, train hard and concentrate on your shodan. Your sensei knows that path, having walked it himself.

There is one exception. Your sensei should emphasize basic principles of power. If he doesn't, find someone who does. Sad to say, there are teachers out there with thriving dojos who know next to nothing about real karate. You should be able to see, and feel, the power of their techniques.

BDC